Welcome to the FAP !

“But test everything; hold fast what is good”

Verse of the year 2025 1 Thessalonians 5:21

(16) Rejoice always, (17) pray constantly, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit, (20) do not despise prophesying, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good, (22) abstain from every form of evil.

At first glance, we think that this verse of the year 2025 was written for a foundation like FAP: because the work of the Council, from session to session, is to check and examine in detail all the requests received and to retain those that are good.

When we look at it more closely, this exhortation is somewhat surprising in its banality. Isn’t that what everyone has been doing continuously for millennia? : check and choose. What can motivate the famous apostle Paul to speak so commonly? Where is the problem that Paul intends to avoid or face?

It is in the context in which this parish of Thessaloniki, like all those of that time, lives about twenty years after the death and resurrection of Christ. At this point in history, there is no written gospel, nor a structured church, nor clarity so that preaching the resurrection of Christ to non-Jews and outside synagogues is consistent with the will of Christ, for example. Paul did, but it got him into serious trouble, also with other apostles. It is a time when the Christian communities are without compass, without legitimate authority, except to know direct witnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Who to listen? Which spirit to follow? Who has the Spirit and who is a false prophet? How to distinguish them, what are the criteria that allow a freshly created community to be sure it is on the right path?

This is also our question today, especially in Western Europe, where the churches are questioning their mission as well as their structure. What should we focus on? : a charismatic revival? a safeguard of tradition? read opinion polls? fight false beliefs? Prefer the so-called social media? resign and wait for better days?

Paul’s answer is not a recipe. It brings the community back to its raison d'être: you are loved by God, without reason or condition, and this in an unconditional way: live and make your choices on the basis of this same conviction: in the humility of prayer, in recognition of being able to make these choices, By being inspired by what we do not necessarily know well or is new, by listening to what comes from elsewhere, by doing good wherever possible.

With its modest resources, the FAP Council wants to draw inspiration from these convictions in order to select good projects and work with its partners in 2025.

Serge Fornerod, pasteur
President